Single port dual antenna

• US 9,356,346 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2014
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ownbey, Judson Kyle, Clemons, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Karacsony, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/568,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/005 providing two patterns of opposite direction; back to back antennas H01Q25/004 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for transmitting radio frequency includes antenna elements configured to transmit radio frequency beams including a horizontal beam widths and vertical beam widths. The antenna elements are positioned to transmit radio frequency in directions to cover areas independent of each other. The system includes a port operatively coupled to the antenna elements to transmit power to the antenna elements to cause the antenna elements to transmit radio frequency in the respective directions. The antenna elements and the port form a distributed antenna system.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

positioning, via a motor, a first antenna element in a first orientation such that the first antenna element transmits a first radio frequency beam in a first direction, the first antenna element operatively coupled to the motor, the first radio frequency beam covering a first area when transmitted in the first direction, and the first area defined at least in part by a first horizontal beam width of the first radio frequency beam, a first vertical beam width of the first radio frequency beam, and a power transmitted to the first antenna element;

positioning, via the motor, a second antenna element in a second orientation, relative to the first orientation of the first antenna element, such that the second antenna element transmits a second radio frequency beam in a second direction, the second antenna element operatively coupled to the motor, and the second radio frequency beam covering a second area when transmitted in the second direction, wherein the second area is defined at least in part by a second horizontal beam width of the second radio frequency beam, a second vertical beam width of the second radio frequency beam, and the power transmitted to the second antenna element, wherein positioning the first antenna element is independent of positioning the second antenna element; and

causing transmission of the power to the first antenna element and the second antenna element through a port operatively coupled to the first antenna element and the second antenna element to cause the first antenna element to transmit the first radio frequency beam in the first direction and the second antenna element to transmit the second radio frequency beam in the second direction, wherein the port is common to the first antenna element and the second antenna element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the port comprises an N-type connector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area and the second area form an area of coverage and wherein the area of coverage is altered by changing the first direction relative to the second direction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is spatially independent of the second area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first area is at least partially below the first antenna element when the first antenna element is down-tilted by a first down tilt angle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first down tilt angle is alterable, via the motor, from a location remote from the first antenna element.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second area is at least partially below the second antenna element when the second antenna element is down-tilted by a second down tilt angle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first down tilt angle and the second down tilt angle are different.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second down tilt angle is alterable, via the motor, from a location remote from the second antenna element.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first down tilt angle is alterable, via the motor, independent of the second down tilt angle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the port are positioned in a housing constructed and arranged to retain the first antenna element, the second antenna element, and the port.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a cylindrical cross-section.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first horizontal beam width is between 33 degrees and 105 degrees.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vertical beam width is between 4 degrees and 24 degrees.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the second horizontal beam width is between 33 degrees and 105 degrees.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the second vertical beam width is between 4 degrees and 24 degrees.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are positioned at a first end of a mount and the port is positioned at a second end of the mount, and wherein one or more wires operatively coupling the first antenna element to the port and the second antenna element to the port are wrapped around the outside of the mount.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first orientation of the first antenna element relative to the second orientation of the second antenna element at the first end of the mount is variable.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first antenna element and the second antenna element are positioned on the first end of the mount with an angle of between 33 degrees and 180 degrees between the first antenna element and the second antenna element.